Parallel parking is one of the manoeuvres every Ontario G2 road test candidate must perform — and it's the one that makes new drivers the most nervous. But here's the thing: examiners aren't looking for perfection. They're looking for control, observation, and a methodical approach. Master the official step-by-step technique below and you'll walk into your test at Walkley, Canotek, or Peterborough with real confidence.
Yes — and no, depending on which test you're taking. The G2 road test (G1 exit test) includes parallel parking as one of its core manoeuvres, alongside left and right turns, three-point turns, lane changes, and residential driving. [1] However, as of the current test format, the G road test (G2 exit test) at full-time DriveTest centres no longer includes parallel parking — the ministry removed it to focus on higher-speed skills like highway merging and expressway driving. [1]
Bottom line: if you're preparing for your G2, parallel parking will be on the test. If you're heading to the Walkley or Canotek DriveTest centres in Ottawa, or the Peterborough DriveTest Centre, you need this skill dialled in.
The Ministry of Transportation's Official Driver's Handbook lays out a clear procedure for parallel parking on the right-hand side of the road. [2] Every examiner knows these steps — and they're watching to see that you follow them consistently.
Identify a parking space that is roughly one and a half times the length of your vehicle. Before you begin your approach, check your mirrors and blind spot for traffic behind and beside you. Activate your right-turn signal early to communicate your intention clearly. [2]
Pull up alongside the vehicle parked in front of the empty space, leaving approximately one metre of lateral clearance between the two vehicles. Stop when your rear bumper is roughly in line with the rear bumper of the other vehicle. This alignment point is critical — stop too far forward or back and your entry angle will be off from the start.
Shift into reverse. Check your mirrors and blind spot one more time, then begin reversing slowly while turning the steering wheel fully toward the curb (all the way to the right when parking on the right side of the road). Continue reversing at a controlled, walking-speed pace. [2]
While reversing, watch the left-side mirror or glance back. When you can see the outside rear corner of the vehicle in front of your space — or, alternatively, when your passenger-side door is roughly aligned with the rear bumper of that vehicle — straighten your wheels and continue reversing in a straight line. [2]
Once your front bumper has cleared the vehicle in front, turn the steering wheel fully toward the road (all the way to the left) to bring the front of your vehicle in line with the curb. Continue reversing slowly until your vehicle sits parallel to the curb. [2]
If your vehicle is not parallel to the curb after this sequence — for example, if the rear wheel is too far from the curb or the front is angled out — drive forward to straighten. Examiners will not penalize you for making a reasonable correction. What they will penalize is ending up more than about 30 centimetres from the curb without attempting to adjust. [2]
When you are satisfied with your position, set the parking brake and shift into Park (automatic transmission) or into first or reverse gear (manual transmission). Turn off your signal. The examiner will then instruct you to pull out and continue the test.
Contrary to what many new drivers believe, examiners are not judging whether you can park with centimetre-level precision. The G2 parallel parking evaluation focuses on four observable behaviours:
| What examiners watch for | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Observation before and during — mirrors and blind-spot checks | Shows awareness of other road users, cyclists, and pedestrians |
| Smooth, low-speed vehicle control | Demonstrates you can operate the vehicle safely in tight spaces |
| Correct signal use — before pulling over and before pulling out | Communicates intent to other drivers; a mandatory test requirement |
| Final position — parallel to curb, within ~30 cm, not blocking driveways | Shows you understand legal parking requirements under the Highway Traffic Act |
Hitting the curb with your rear tire is a minor error if it's a light touch. Mounting the curb — driving up onto it — is typically an automatic fail because it indicates a loss of vehicle control. The fix: reverse more slowly and use your right-side mirror to monitor the distance. If you're unsure, stop, pull forward, and try again.
Before you start reversing, you must check your blind spot over your right shoulder. Skipping this is one of the most common reasons for deduction on the G2 test — and it's entirely avoidable. Make it a deliberate, visible head movement so the examiner sees it clearly.
The MTO handbook specifies that when you stop parallel to the curb after a roadside stop, you should not be more than about 30 centimetres away. [2] The same standard applies during the test. If you finish too wide, pull forward and correct before signalling completion — you have that option.
Nerves push many candidates to rush through the parking sequence. The result: jerky steering, missed reference points, and unnecessary corrections. Take your time. There is no stopwatch on the parallel parking portion of the G2 test. A slow, controlled park will always score higher than a fast, sloppy one.
Part of the test is demonstrating that you understand where you can't park. Before you commit to a space, scan for driveways, fire hydrants (you must be at least three metres away), and no-stopping signs. Selecting an illegal spot — even if the examiner won't let you complete the park there — shows poor judgment.
Nothing replaces real-world practice. If you live in the Ottawa area, quiet residential streets in Barrhaven, Kanata, Nepean, or Orléans offer the kind of low-traffic, curb-lined roads that closely replicate test conditions. Practise on streets near the Walkley or Canotek centres so the road width and curb height feel familiar on test day.
Peterborough drivers can take advantage of the residential grid around the Lansdowne Place area — streets like Park Street South and the neighbourhoods east of Monaghan Road provide excellent, low-pressure practice environments.
If you're taking professional lessons, your instructor will know exactly which streets the local examiners favour. Our G2 road test preparation packages include dedicated parallel-parking practice on the actual test routes used by Walkley, Canotek, and Peterborough examiners.
While hill parking is not always tested on the G2, the MTO handbook covers it, and some examiners may include a hill-park component, especially in cities with varied terrain. Here are the rules to remember: [2]
The parallel parking technique above is exactly what's taught in every MTO-approved Beginner Driver Education (BDE) course. Beyond teaching you the manoeuvre, completing a BDE course has a concrete benefit: you can take your G2 road test after just 8 months with your G1 instead of the standard 12 months. [1] For Ottawa and Peterborough students looking to get licensed efficiently, the BDE path saves four months of waiting — and the in-car hours include supervised parallel parking practice on real test routes.
Our certified instructors in Ottawa and Peterborough teach the exact MTO-approved method, with practice on the same streets your examiner will use. Book a lesson and park with confidence.
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